The report is due to be published at the end of the year but the children's charity say it should 'see the light of day' as soon as possible as 'those affected have waited long enough'.

The abuse in Jersey’s care system affected an unprecedented number of people and each victim deserves to see clear change so the failings of the past cannot happen again.

People who have suffered abuse as a child often never reveal their ordeal. Ensuring no historical offence is considered too old for investigation is crucial if we’re to increase public confidence in reporting abuse and to show victims they can achieve justice.

Frances Oldham QC and her two panel colleagues will now retire to write a report based on all the evidence they have been given.

She thanked everyone who has given that evidence to the Inquiry and reiterated what the Panel will be focusing on in the report.

The Panel will not be making findings of fact in relation to individual allegations. That was not part of our remit.
We will analyse the evidence as a whole to determine the culture of the relevant institutions and establish whether there were any patterns of abuse or systemic failings that can be identified.

Today the inquiry into historical child abuse in Jersey began its final week of public hearings, giving a chance for interested parties to make their very final submissions.

The police, States of Jersey and the Law Officers Department had their say on the evidence given to the panel.

The Jersey Care Leavers Association will have its say tomorrow.

Counsel to the Inquiry began summing up the key points they think the panel need to focus on when writing their report.

200

oral submissions heard by panel

450

written submissions considered

They reminded Frances Oldham QC and her colleagues that they have heard oral evidence from 200 people, and had written submissions from 450 more and considered 66 thousand pages of documentary evidence.

Their job now, they were reminded, isn't to make findings on individual allegations of abuse but to make judgements on the culture within the care system, identify patterns of abuse and any systemic failings.

The summing up will continue until Wednesday, when the panel will finally retire to write that report.

£14m

Care Inquiry's budget

It's been two years since public hearings started here in St Helier, and since then the Care Inquiry's original £6 million budget has more than doubled to £14 million.

It's publication, due at the end of this year, is being eagerly awaited by hundreds of islanders, many of whom say their lives have been shaped by their treatment in care.